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Hello!

I'm starting a project to make a robot Baneblade. The goal is to put a raspberry pi, some sensors and power inside a baneblade and do some basic code. With this it can do some basic robot things, such as avoid a wall or follow a line.

The robotics parts come from the CamJam Edukit http://camjam.me/?page_id=1035 that's easy enough to use. Also they have all the info for the code too.

Here's a picture of the bits and pieces I've got.




I'm happy to have three Baneblades, which I aqcuired back in the day when I was working as an Outrider for GW.
I plan to use the middle one as a reference and as a platform to dry fit stuff. The one to the left I should finish painting...
The sprues in the top right are the pieces for the Robot Baneblade.

On the lower row is from the right:
Wires, sensors, connection board, some resistors, two different types of motors, memory card, batterypack and a Raspberry Pi.

I'm still missing from here a powerbank for the Raspberry. (I have a nice flat one, which fits just under the Baneblade)
H-Bridge (it's somewhere around here) The h-bridge helps the raspberry pi to control the motors, as it can't handle the electricitty from the batteries by itself.

The most difficult to find, I believe, are the tracks. I can't use the ones that come with the Baneblade. I started to think about 3d-printing / cnc milling. I have no idea on how I should create a 3d model for that though.
Hopefully I'll just find something suitable from a store somewhere.

I've try fitted enough to get the bits inside the Baneblade, that I think it can be done. I might have to do some extra holes or such in order to get it to work right. Also it might be good to have a batterypack of two batteries. That would save space and make the Baneblade move slower.



edit: I just measured the tracks, they should be 48.5x2.5cm

Great idea for a project! The inside of the tank is very spacious for the battery and circuitry which is a big help.

Like you say, tracks are going to be the only problem, you should be able to buy some good ones online but fitting them into the tank could be tricky. I'd recommend making them functional a priority and don't glue anything before you get them just right.

Best of luck!

Thank you Commander Cain

Today I managed to go through some googling and local hobbystores regarding the tracks. This indeed is a difficult thing. Online shops have very little descriptions on how long or wide the tracks are.
Luckily one of the local stores was quite helpful. The guy at the store said he has at home a tank that might have suitable tracks for this one. He promised to check how big they are.

Otherwise I managed to gather more electronics:



There's a smaller battery pack, the H-bridge, powerbank and a couple of line sensors. These line sensors are a bit better than the one in the previous pic.

I'm a bit undecided on how to move forward with this, since the tracks and positioning of the motors are such a huge part of the whole project. I could probably start by checking how to put the sensors in there.

Awesome idea !I've seen a youtube clip where a guy did it to a Leman Russ, so it's definitely possible. Don't think he went as far as controlling it via Raspberry Pi though, that's a great touch. Good luck OP!

Thank you Skinflint! I think the raspberry pi will be a good thing here

I started looking into getting the sensors in place. The line sensors were quite easy to position. I do hope they also work from where they're located. They should, but I know from previous experiments that it might be tricky.

Here's a couple of pics on the location for the line sensors.






The distance sensor is a bit trickier though. It need to be located in the front of the tank, so that it can 'see' to the front. It's also quite big and needs some extra plasticard work in order to get it in place. I guess I have to take some of the bottom off of the Baneblade in order to make some space there. Anyway I did a frame for the sensor that should help mask it up a bit.








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I still haven't had luck with the tracks though. I did manage to get some ideas for DIY tracks that could be made from chains. I gotta start searching for small enough chains too.
Then again Lego tracks might do the trick. I don't know what size they are though.

I feel like the tracks should probably be a priority - everything else depends on how you do it. If you have actual tracks, you need to consider where and how youll fit the axles for the roaswheels, the motors, do you have a suspension system or not, etc. If you go for hidden wheels, you also have to consider where to put them you theyre not too obvious.

Though, re: making your own tracks... maybe casting your own based on the baneblade kit could work? Or buying conversion kits that fit the baneblade? 3D printing could be another avenue to explore, there are some rubbery materials out there that might work...?